New Drake Powers, Part 1

Drake companions are a great addendum to the adventuring world, but many gamers complain that the drake-riding character archetypes give up too much and a drake companion is too weak. This series of new powers taken from existing drake stats tries to solve the problem at least a bit.

This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!

New Drake Powers

Ability Score Increase (Ex): The drake adds 1 to one of its ability scores. This power can be selected more than once.

Accursed Breath (Su): As a standard action, the drake can spit a compressed ball of jet-black dust that bursts into a spray of clinging motes that sap the spiritual strength of creatures in an area. It functions as the breath weapon power and can be improved with the improved breath weapon and greater breath weapon powers, but deals negative energy damage (Will save for half damage) to all creatures in its radius. Affected creatures take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks for 1d4 rounds (or for 1 round on a successful Will save). As long as these motes cling to a creature, the effect of any conjuration (healing) effect used on that creature is halved. This is a curse effect. The save DC is Constitution-based. To select accursed breath, the drake must not have the breath weapon power.

Amphibious (Ex): The drake gains the amphibious universal monster ability. To select amphibious, the drake must have the water subtype and the swim and improved swim powers.

Camouflage (Su): The drake’s coloration and shape lend to its stealth. For 10 rounds/day, the drake can shift its coloration, gaining the benefit of 20% concealment. These rounds need not be consecutive.

Capsize (Ex): The drake can attempt to capsize a boat or ship of its size or smaller by ramming it as a charge attack and making a combat maneuver check. The DC of this check is 25 or the result of the boat captain’s Profession (sailor) check, whichever is higher. To select capsize, the drake must have the water subtype and the swim and improved swim powers, and its charge must be at least 11th level.

Carrying Capacity (Ex): The drake’s carrying capacity is 6 times greater. To select carrying capacity, the drake’s size must be at least Large.

Claws (Ex): The drake gains two claw attacks that deal damage according to its size.

Climb (Ex): The drake gains a climb speed of 20 feet.

Corruption Immunity (Ex): The drake becomes immune to disease and poison.

Damage Resistance: The drake gains DR 10/magic. To select damage resistance, the drake’s charge must be at least 15th level.

Elemental Blood (Ex): A creature that makes a successful attack with a slashing or piercing weapon (including natural weapons) against the drake must succeed on a Reflex save (DC = 10 + ½ the drake’s HD + its Constitution modifier) or take 1d3 points of damage of the drake’s energy type from the splashing blood.

Magic Tricks For Aardvark Press Is Out!

Hi all! I am busy as always with new issues of the Library, but when friends wish to work with me, I don’t say no!

Welcome to this new book, Magic Tricks! Originally appearing in two softcover Pathfinder First Edition books, Magic Trick is a feat that allows spellcasters to use a single spell in new ways, as long as prerequisites are met.

 

In those two books, each introduced Magic Trick for use with the following eight spells: daylight, fireball, floating disk, mage hand, obscuring mist, prestidigitation, shield, and unseen servant. This book reprints those for the reader’s convenience, and introduces twenty more, for the following spells: burning hands, control water, glitterdust, lightning bolt, magic missile, pillar of lifeAPG, plant growth, rainbow pattern, resplendent mansionUI, scintillating pattern, scrivener’s chantSOS, spell turning, summon instrument, sunbeam, telekinetic sphere, time stop, wall of ice, wall of iron, and wall of stone.

 

Each Magic Trick feat includes some lore, which might inspire GMs and/or players with campaigns or characters. The tricks themselves may inspire gameplay in new ways, or inspire players with ideas for new characters.

 

This content might be perfect for your campaigns!

And tomorrow, there will be a little piece of exclusive content to celebrate on my Patreon page. Look forward for it!

Conversion Series: Magic Items 5 By Aardvark Press

Today I advertise a new book by my friend Julian Neale of Aardvark Press. You can find the book on Drivethru.

This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!

Conversion Series: Magic Items 5

Presented here are many new magic items, converted from (or inspired by) the Pathfinder Second Edition adventure books (mostly #186-189 and 191-195), as well as a few other sources. They include new specific types of shield, new specific weapons, two new types of talismans, new wondrous items, and much more!

There is also a new type of magic item in this book, the campsite meal, which were created for two popular computer roleplaying games (Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous) using the Pathfinder First Edition ruleset, and which were included in a Pathfinder Second Edition book. Additionally, dozens of magic tattoos have been converted as well! For ease of reading and use, both sets of items are grouped together in their own section within this book, after the wondrous items.

Many of these magic items might be perfect for your campaigns!

Where needed, 7 spells have been reprinted, with one each from Conversion Series: Spells 1 and 3, one from the upcoming Conversion Series: Spells 4, and four from the upcoming Conversion Series: Spells 5. 

New Shaman Spirit: Dragon

To complement the Dragon oracle mystery!

This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!

Dragon

A shaman who selects the dragon spirit is tall and imposing, with a hair and eye color matching the dragon type she identifies with. Little scales of the same color can be seen in some parts of her body. When she calls upon one of her spirit’s abilities, her eyes glow bright and her voice sounds hoarse and rumbling.

Upon selecting this spirit, the shaman must select an energy type (acid, cold, electricity, or fire) to be her associated element, which impacts her spirit powers and spirit hexes. A shaman must have the Dragon spirit as her primary spirit in order to qualify for the Dragon ApostleBL5 prestige archetype.

Bonus Spells: cause fear (2nd), resist energy (4th), fly (6th), fear (8th), spell resistance (10th), antimagic field (12th), true seeing (14th), form of the dragon III* (16th), overwhelming presenceUM (18th).

Hexes: A shaman who chooses the Dragon spirit can select from the following hexes.

Draconic Essence (Ex): The shaman gains Draconic ManifestationLoD as a bonus feat and a +4 insight bonus on Intimidate checks. She can use Draconic ManifestationLoD when using her dragon claws spirit power in the same way as a sorcerer with the draconic bloodline.

Draconic Majesty (Su): As a swift action, the shaman can manifest an aura of draconic might around herself. Enemies within 30 feet who can see the shaman when she activates this ability must attempt a Will save. Success means that the creature is immune to this ability for the following 24 hours. On a failed save, the opponent is shaken for 1d6 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The shaman can use this ability three times per day, but she must wait 1d4+1 rounds between each use.

Dragon Magic (Su): The shaman can add a number of spells with the draconicLoD descriptor or with “dragon” in their name equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1) to the list of shaman spells she can prepare. To cast these spells she must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell’s level, but the saving throw DCs of these spells are based on her Wisdom rather than Charisma. When she casts these spells, they are always treated as divine. Each time the shaman gains a level after taking this hex, she can choose to replace one of these spells for a new dragon magic spell.

Dragon Senses (Ex): The shaman’s senses take on a keen draconic edge. She gains either darkvision with a range of 60 feet or low-light vision. At 5th level, the shaman can select darkvision with a range of 60 feet or low-light vision if she does not yet have both, or she can add 60 feet to the range of her darkvision. At 11th level, the shaman gains blindsense with a range of 30 feet. If she already has blindsense, the shaman instead increases its range by 30 feet. At 15th level, the shaman gains either the scent ability or a +4 bonus on Perception checks.

Dragon’s Tail (Ex): The shaman can grow a scaly tail. This tail can be used only to make attacks of opportunity, but it allows the shaman to make one additional attack of opportunity each round. This tail attack deals an amount of bludgeoning damage equal to 1d8 (1d6 if the shaman is Small) + the shaman’s Strength modifier. At 10th level, the shaman can attempt a free trip combat maneuver check against any creature damaged by her tail attack. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Spirit Animal: The shaman’s spirit animal has patches of colored scales on its body and a vaguely draconic aspect. Any touch attacks against the animal are resolved against its normal AC.

Spirit Ability: A shaman who chooses the Dragon spirit as her spirit or wandering spirit gains the following ability.

Dragon Claws (Su): The shaman can grow claws as a free action. These claws are treated as natural weapons, allowing her to perform two claw attacks as a full attack action using her full base attack bonus. Each of these attacks deals an amount of slashing damage equal to 1d4 (1d3 if the shaman is Small) + the shaman’s Strength modifier. At 5th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming DR. At 7th level, the damage die increases by 1 step, to deal an amount of slashing damage equal to 1d6 (1d4 if the shaman is Small) + the shaman’s Strength modifier. At 11th level, these claws deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of the shaman’s chosen energy type on a successful hit. The shaman can use these claws for a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

Greater Spirit Ability: A shaman who chooses the Dragon spirit as her spirit or wandering spirit gains the following ability upon having access to the greater version of that spirit.

Breath Weapon (Su): The shaman gains resistance 5 to her energy type. In addition, she gains a breath weapon dealing 1d6 points of damage of her energy type per 2 shaman levels she possesses (minimum 1d6; Reflex half). The shape of the breath weapon is either a 30-foot cone or a 60- foot line, selected when gaining this power. The shaman can use this ability three times per day, but she must wait 1d4 rounds between each use.

True Spirit Ability: A shaman who chooses the Dragon spirit as her spirit or wandering spirit gains the following ability upon having access to the true version of that spirit.

Form of the Dragon (Su): The shaman’s kinship with dragonkind allows her to take on the form of a dragon. As a standard action once per day, the shaman can assume the form of a Large dragon, as per form of the dragon II*, with a duration of 10 minutes per oracle level. The shaman can instead have this ability function as per form of the dragon I*; if she does, the duration is 1 hour per level.

Manifestation: Upon reaching 20th level, the shaman’s draconic destiny unfolds. She gains immunity to paralysis, sleep, and damage of her energy type. The shaman counts as a dragon for the purposes of spells and magical effects. She can use her breath weapon an unlimited number of times per day, though no more often than once every 1d4+1 rounds. In addition, when using the form of the dragon power, the shaman can assume the form of a Huge dragon, as per form of the dragon III*.

* With the GM’s permission, a shaman can replace these spells with the equivalent version of an alternative form of the dragon spell. Once made, this choice cannot be changed.

New Warden Vigil: Outrage

A new class option for the Warden class by Drop Dead Studios! For the Warden who wants to protect with rage!

This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!

New Warden Vigil: Outrage

An outraged warden is driven to fury by the wrongs he perceives in the world and everything that would harm his allies. Using a combination of offense and defense, he unleashes his rage against enemies and evildoers and puts himself in the first line during combat.

Vigil Sphere: Berserker.

Outraged Guard: An outraged warden’s guard feels infuriating and tumultuous. At 3rd level, the warden’s guarded allies gain a number of temporary hit points equal to twice the warden’s guard bonus, and they don’t provoke attacks of opportunity when charging.

Shared Adrenaline: At 7th level, when the warden uses an (adrenaline) talent on himself while berserking, he can grant that talent to his guarded allies too (the warden’s guarded allies don’t gain the base effects of the berserking ability). If the warden spends a spell point, he can apply a second (adrenaline) talent to himself at the same time when using this ability.

Vengeful Outrage: At 11th level, whenever an ally within the warden’s guard range suffers damage from  a weapon attack, the warden can spend one of his attacks of opportunity in that round to grant that ally a free attack at their highest attack bonus against the creature that damaged them. This is in addition to the ally’s normal number of attacks in a round.

Indomitable Will: At 15th level, the warden is immune to mind-affecting effects unless he is a willing target. Additionally, allies within the warden’s guard range gain a +4 bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects.

Spell-Sundering Roar: At 19th level, while the warden has a patrol active, he can use a brutal strike to try sundering any hostile spell cast on himself or his allies within his threatened area. This functions as the Spell Sunder advanced berserker talent, except it has effect on any spell rather than just ongoing effects.

Vigil Reinforcements

Rage (requires outrage) The warden can enter a rage like a barbarian, for a number of rounds per day equal to his warden level. These rounds of rage stack with any rounds of rage he might have from other sources. He is under the same restrictions with skills, spells, and sphere abilities as a barbarian, but he may use his guard ability and reinforcements as normal, and can use (adrenaline) powers during a rage as if he was berserking. He is fatigued afterward as a barbarian.  The warden may end a rage prematurely as a free action.

Uncanny Dodge (requires diligence, intuition, or outrage vigil, warden 6) The warden and his guarded allies gain the uncanny dodge ability as the barbarian class feature, preventing them from being caught flatfooted and allowing them to keep their Dexterity bonus to their AC if the attacker is unseen. (They still lose their Dexterity bonus to their AC if a foe successfully feints against them.)

If a guarded ally already has uncanny dodge, they gain improved uncanny dodge while guarded instead.

Tool Weapons

I referred many times to these and it’s time to present them! An all-new weapon group and many examples of weapons that can be used as tools of different trades!

This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!

Battle Chair

Price 13 gp; Type two-handed melee; Proficiency simple; Damage (M) 1d10 (B); Damage (S) 1d8 (B); Critical x3; Weapon Group hammers; Weight 30 lbs.

Qualities fragile (-1), improved critical multiplier (3), improved damage (4), tool (chair) (0), weapon feature (blocking) (1)

A chair with steel bands around its frame that increase its weight and make it more apt to be broken down on an opponent’s head.

Battle Tome

Price 19/37 gp; Type light/two-handed melee; Proficiency simple; Damage (M) 1d6 (B) (light)/2d6 (B) (two-handed); Damage (S) 1d4 (B) (light)/1d10 (B) (two-handed); Critical x2; Weapon Group hammers, tools; Weight 8/16 lbs.

Qualities aerodynamic (1), improved damage (2/5), tool (book) (0), weapon feature (blocking) (1)

Be it a small booklet or a huge steel-studded tome, a book can not only be used as a pastime or a source of knowledge, but also to make your foes feel all the weight of the Word- even at a distance.

Combat Fishing Pole

Price 24 gp; Type two-handed melee; Proficiency exotic; Damage (M) 1d4 (B); Damage (S) 1d3 (B); Critical x2; Weapon Group flails; Weight 5 lbs.

Qualities improved damage (1), tool (fishing pole) (0), weapon feature (grapple, reach, trip) (8)

By tying a sack full of sand or a steel weight to the end of its line in place of a lure and swinging it around, this reinforced fishing pole can be used to damage enemies.

Combat Ladder

Price 8 gp; Type two-handed melee; Proficiency simple; Damage (M) 1d8/1d8 (B); Damage (S) 1d6/1d6 (B); Critical x2; Weapon Group double, polearms; Weight 20 lbs.

Qualities improved damage (6), tool (ladder) (0), weapon feature (reach) (1)

A bigger version of the gnome battle ladder, a combat ladder is difficult to conceal and heavy to carry around, but it can be used as a weapon by adventurers that become fond of this particular tool.

Combat Umbrella

Price 10 gp; Type one-handed melee; Proficiency martial; Damage (M) 1d6 (P); Damage (S) 1d4 (P); Critical x2; Weapon Group light blades; Weight 9 lbs.

Qualities additional damage type (S) (1), finesse (3), improved damage (2), tool (umbrella) (0), weapon feature (blocking) (1)

This umbrella's ferrule is a hollow-tipped blade three to four inches in length and often overlooked as decorative. Reinforced ribs enable you to parry and deflect blows with the umbrella's tear-resistant canopy. If the canopy is metallic too, you can use the open umbrella as a slashing weapon.

Fighting Oar

Price 14 gp; Type two-handed melee; Proficiency martial; Damage (M) 1d8 (B); Damage (S) 1d6 (B); Critical x2; Weapon Group polearms; Weight 30 lbs.

Qualities improved damage (3), tool (oar) (0), weapon feature (brace, reach) (4)

A reinforced boat oar that can be used as a tool or a weapon. Sailors and galley slaves created their own styles of combat with the oar.

Juggling Club

Price 7 gp; Type light melee; Proficiency simple; Damage (M) 1d4 (B); Damage (S) 1d3 (B); Critical x2; Range 10 ft.; Weapon Group hammers, thrown; Weight 2 lbs.

Qualities aerodynamic (1), concealed (1), improved damage (1), tool (0), weapon feature (performance) (1)

Expert jugglers can throw these weighted clubs to opponents or pound enemies with them in addition to their performances.

Stiletto Pen

Price 7 gp; Type light melee; Proficiency simple; Damage (M) 1d4 (P); Damage (S) 1d3 (P); Critical x3; Weapon Group light blades, tools; Weight 1-½ lb.

Qualities improved critical multiplier (3), improved damage (1), tool (pen) (0)

This weapon is a fully functional, lavish ink pen with a clip that can be attached to a pocket or bandoleer and easily retrieved as a free action. Using a move action to interact with the pen allows its wielder to disengage a stiletto blade that slides free of the upper body or reattach the previously removed blade.

War Lute

Price 23 gp; Type one-handed melee; Proficiency exotic; Damage (M) 1d10 (B); Damage (S) 1d8 (B); Critical x2; Weapon Group hammers; Weight 9 lbs.

Qualities concealed (1), ease of grip (1), improved damage (4), tool (musical instrument) (0), shield (1), weapon feature (performance) (1)

A war lute’s box and neck have been reinforced with steel and his sound has a metallic quality. It can be used as a musical instrument or a weapon.

War Mallet

Price 20 gp; Type light; Proficiency martial; Damage (M) 1d4 (B); Damage (S) 1d3 (B); Critical x2; Weapon Group hammers, tools; Weight 6 lbs.

Qualities improved damage (1), tool (musical instrument) (0), weapon features (nonlethal, performance) (4)

War mallets are military drumsticks that can be used for bardic performance or for battle. They usually come in pairs and accompany a drum. A war mallet has a padded head that deals nonlethal damage, but it can be rotated in the hand to deal lethal damage with its grip end.

War Scissors

Price 9 gp; Type two-handed melee; Proficiency exotic; Damage (M) 1d12 (S); Damage (S) 1d10 (S); Critical x2 (19-20); Weapon Group heavy blades; Weight 10 lbs.

Qualities improved critical threat range (3), improved damage (5), strong (1)

These giant scissors are more than just a tailor’s tool; they sunder flesh and bone.